Do you use language corpora in your research or study, but find that you struggle with statistics? This practical introduction will equip you to understand the key principles of statistical thinking and apply these concepts to your own research, without the need for prior statistical knowledge. The book gives step-by-step guidance through the process of statistical analysis and provides multiple examples of how statistical techniques can be used to analyse and visualise linguistic data. It also includes a useful selection of discussion questions and exercises which you can use to check your understanding.

This website contains additional materials (video lectures, exercises, data, and slides and lesson plans) as well as easy-to-use tools for calculating statistics and producing graphs. Lancaster Stats Tools online offers access to powerful statistical tools through a simple 'click and analyse' user interface, into which the data can be directly copy/pasted from a spreadsheet (e.g. Excel or Calc). The statistical tools offer the power of the

in the background combined with a user-friendly interface designed specifically for analyses of data in corpus linguistics. To search corpora and obtain frquincies for statistical analysis a range of software tools can be used.

What is statistics?

Statistics is a discipline that offers useful techniques for quantitative research – any research that deals with quantities and numbers. There are different definitions of statistics. I prefer this one: Statistics is a discipline that helps us make sense of quantitative data. To find out more watch my introductory lecture on

Is statistics important in education?

Statistical literacy – the ability to produce and interpret quantitative information – belongs to the basic set of academic skills that, despite its importance, has so far received only limited attention. Read a blogpost about statistics in education. Do you think that statistics should have a more prominent place at schools and universities?